Tourism to Fort Vancouver NHS Creates $40.4M in Economic Benefit

VANCOUVER, WA – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 733,539 visitors to Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (NHS) in 2013 spent $40.4 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 610 jobs in the local area. These numbers are all increases over those reported in 2012.

"Fort Vancouver proudly welcomes visitors from across the country and around the world," said superintendent Tracy Fortmann. "We are delighted to share the story of this place and the experiences it provides and to use the park as a way to introduce our visitors to this part of the country and all that it offers. As one of just over 400 national parks, Fort Vancouver is in an exclusive group -- an internationally significant place that helps represent the soul of America. National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy - returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service - and it's a big factor in our local economy as well. We appreciate the partnership and support of our neighbors and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities."

The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber and Lynne Koontz for the National Park Service. The report shows $14.6 billion of direct spending by 273.6 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported more than 237,000 jobs nationally, with more than 197,000 jobs found in these gateway communities, and had a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $26.5 billion.

According to the 2013 economic analysis, most visitor spending was for lodging (30.3 percent) followed by food and beverages (27.3 percent), gas and oil (12.1 percent), admissions and fees (10.3 percent) and souvenirs and other expenses (10 percent).

The largest jobs categories supported by visitor spending were restaurants and bars (50,000 jobs) and lodging (38,000 jobs).

The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state. When compared to other national parks in the Pacific Northwest, the economic benefit of Fort Vancouver NHS is most comparable to that of Crater Lake National Park (NP), where 523,027 visitors in 2013 spent $43.7 million in communities near the park, supporting 661 jobs.In the category of local jobs supported by visitor spending in 2013, Fort Vancouver NHS (610) exceeded that of units including Mount Rainier NP (474), Ross Lake NRA (332), Nez Perce NHP (228), Lewis & Clark NHP (167), San Juan Island NHP (144), John Day Fossil Beds NM (94), Oregon Caves NM (70),Klondike Gold Rush NHP (41), Whitman Mission NHS (41), and North Cascades National Park (9), ranking a close fourth behind Olympic National Park (2,993), Crater Lake National Park (661), and Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (639).

To learn more about national parks in Washington and Oregon and how the National Park Service works with Washington and Oregon communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/WASHINGTON or www.nps.gov/OREGON.